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BUSINESS NEWS WARE MALCOMB CHAIRMAN CO- CHAIRS RECORD-BREAKING $383 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR KENT STATE UNIVERSITY Kent State University recently acknowledged Ware Malcomb Chairman Lawrence Armstrong and his wife, Sandra Armstrong for their leadership of Forever Brighter, the school’s most successful fundraising campaign in its 114-year history. The husband-and-wife team co- chaired the three-year campaign and were themselves major donors to the effort, which concluded in June 2024 and raised more than $383.2 million. Forever Brighter was a comprehensive fundraising campaign that launched with an initial goal of raising $350 million to support student scholarships, university initiatives, capital-building projects and global education. Philanthropic support during the campaign has resulted in the construction of Crawford Hall, a new 150,000-square-foot home for the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship on the Kent Campus, as well as an expansion to the College of Aeronautics and Engineering building and FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center, and other important capital improvements. “Sandy and I have always been thankful for the role Kent State played in our lives,” said Armstrong, who earned his degrees
from Kent State in 1979 and 1980. “Serving as the co-chairs for the Forever Brighter campaign allowed us to contribute to the long-term success of this awesome university, and it has been exciting to see how devoted our university community is to Kent State and its students. The support raised through this campaign will continue to elevate our reputation as a top university while making a Kent State education accessible to countless students.” A total of 66,310 individual donors contributed during the campaign. With three priorities - Prioritizing Student Success, Expanding University Initiatives and Building the Future – at its core, the campaign would fund projects, programs and initiatives to enhance student experiences and elevate Kent State’s reputation as a national leader in student support, athletics, research and innovation. “The Forever Brighter campaign placed student success, especially scholarships, as its highest priority,” Sandra Armstrong said. “That commitment to student success is one of the special qualities that makes Kent State so amazing, and it’s a commitment that is shared among our enthusiastic supporters. Thank you to our Campaign Executive Committee and everyone else who contributed to the success of this campaign and the
brilliant futures of Kent State students who will serve as the next generation of leaders.” Philanthropy has become a driving force at Kent State, illuminating a brighter future for its students and their communities. The successful campaign demonstrated the success that Kent State has had since 1991, when the university implemented its first fundraising campaign and began promoting a culture of giving among alumni and other supporters. “As we look toward the future, we celebrate the success of the Forever Brighter campaign and continue our commitment to ensuring access and fostering completion,” said Todd Diacon, Kent State’s president. “I’m thrilled that we exceeded our $350 million goal. That’s going to make a difference, right now and long into the future. We are all deeply grateful to the thousands of donors whose generosity is making the university forever brighter.” “As we conclude the Forever Brighter campaign, we are humbled and proud to have surpassed our $350 million goal,” said Valoree Vargo, Kent State’s vice president of philanthropy and alumni engagement. “We are grateful to the many supporters who have given their time and contributions; we have achieved our goal of making our students’ futures brighter.”
can foster more meaningful connections, demonstrate our full spectrum of capabilities, and, most importantly, evolve alongside the needs of our clients. In the era of holistic service and partnership, listening and personalized engagement are the keys to unlocking true business potential. Val Brennan is director of marketing at WSB. Connect with her on LinkedIn. “For decades, one-pagers have been the go-to marketing material, typically leading with a detailed list of services. This method, while straightforward, inherently restricts a firm’s narrative to a narrow scope. Clients, especially in the AEC sector, look for partners, not just service providers.”
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THE ZWEIG LETTER SEPTEMBER 9, 2024, ISSUE 1552
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